Linux Phrasebook
Linux Phrasebook is all about the Linux command line, and it's perfect for both Linux newbies and experienced users. In fact, when I was asked to write the book, I responded, "Write it? I can't wait to buy it!"
The idea behind Linux Phrasebook is to give practical examples of Linux commands and their myriad options, with examples for everything. Too often a Linux user will look up a command in order to discover how it works, and while the command and its many options will be detailed, something vitally important will be left out: examples. That's where Linux Phrasebook comes in. I cover a huge number of different commands and their options, and for every single one, I give an example of usage and results that makes it clear how to use it.
Here's the table of contents; in parentheses I've included some (just some) of the commands I cover in each chapter:
- Things to Know About Your Command Line
- The Basics (ls, cd, mkdir, cp, mv, rm)
- Learning About Commands (man, info, whereis, apropos)
- Building Blocks (;, &&, |, >, >>)
- Viewing Files (cat, less, head, tail)
- Printing and Managing Print Jobs (lpr, lpq, lprm)
- Ownerships and Permissions (chgrp, chown, chmod)
- Archiving and Compression (zip, gzip, bzip2, tar)
- Finding Stuff: Easy (grep, locate)
- The find command (find)
- Your Shell (history, alias, set)
- Monitoring System Resources (ps, lsof, free, df, du)
- Installing software (rpm, dkpg, apt-get, yum)
- Connectivity (ping, traceroute, route, ifconfig, iwconfig)
- Working on the Network (ssh, sftp, scp, rsync, wget)
- Windows Networking (nmblookup, smbclient, smbmount)
I'm really proud of the whole book, but the chapter on the super-powerful and useful find command is a standout, along with the material on ssh and its descendants sftp and scp. But really, the whole book is great, and I'll definitely be keeping a copy on my desk as a reference. If you want to know more about the Linux command line and how to use it, then I know you'll enjoy and learn from Linux Phrasebook.
Read an excerpt: Chapter 8: Archiving and Compression.
Translated into French and Polish!
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Ubuntu Hacks
The Ubuntu distribution simplifies Linux by providing a sensible collection of applications, an easy-to-use package manager, and lots of fine-tuning, which make it possibly the best Linux for desktops and laptops. Readers of both Linux Journal and TUX Magazine confirmed this by voting Ubuntu as the best Linux distribution in each publication's 2005 Readers Choice Awards. None of that simplification, however, makes Ubuntu any less fun if you're a hacker or a power user.
Like all books in the Hacks series, Ubuntu Hacks includes 100 quick tips and tricks for all users of all technical levels. Beginners will appreciate the installation advice and tips on getting the most out of the free applications packaged with Ubuntu, while intermediate and advanced readers will learn the ins-and-outs of power management, wireless roaming, 3D video acceleration, server configuration, and much more.
I contributed 10 of the 100 hacks in this book, including information on the following topics:
- Encrypt Your Email and Important Files
- Surf the Web Anonymously
- Keep Windows Malware off Your System
- Mount Removable Devices with Persistent Names
- Mount Remote Directories Securely and Easily
- Make Videos of Your Tech-Support Questions
I've been using K/Ubuntu for over a year (heck, it's only two years old!), and it's the best distro I've ever used. I was really excited to contribute my 10 hacks to Ubuntu Hacks, as this is defintely a book any advanced Linux user would love.
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Hacking Knoppix
Knoppix is one of the great innovations in open source software in the last few years. Everyone that sees it wants to use it, since it is that rarest of software tools: the true Swiss Army Knife, capable of use by unsophisticated, experienced, and wizardly users, able to perform any of several hundred (if not thousand) tasks in an efficient and powerful way. Best of all, it's super easy to employ, ultra-portable, and platform- and hardware-agnostic.
Knoppix camps on your system without canceling out your regular installation or messing with your files. And it's really fun to play with. Hacking Knoppix provides all kinds of ways to customize Knoppix for your particular needs, plus the scoop on various Knoppix distros. Learn to build a Knoppix first-aid kit for repairing cranky Windows and rescuing precious data, or create your own Live CD. In short, Hacking Knoppix will transform your ordinary powerless Knoppix-curious individual into a fearsome Knoppix ninja, able to right wrongs, recover data, and vanquish the forces of ignorance and Windows usage once and for all.
Our approach in Hacking Knoppix is smart, detailed, and fun. We know our stuff, and we want our readers to understand and enjoy all the outrageously cool things that Knoppix makes possible. If a topic is kind of hard to understand, we'll explain it so that lesser experienced readers get it and more experienced readers still learn something new; if a point needs in-depth explanation, we'll give it in an interesting fashion; and if it needs a splash of humor to relieve the tedium, we'll slip in something humorous, like a banana peel in front of Bill Gates.
- Knoppix is an innovative Linux distribution that does not require installation, making it ideal to use for a rescue system, demonstration purposes, or many other applications
- Shows hack-hungry fans how to fully customize Knoppix and Knoppix-based distributions
- Readers will learn to create two different Knoppix-based live CDs, one for children and one for Windows recovery
- Teaches readers to use Knoppix to work from a strange computer, rescue a Windows computer that won't boot, repair and recover data from other machines, and more
- Includes Knoppix Light 4.0 on a ready-to-use, bootable live CD
Read sample excerpts, including Chapter 1: Unraveling the
Knoppix Toolkit Maze (1.7 MB PDF), the complete Table of Contents (135 kb PDF) & the Index (254 kb PDF).
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Don't Click on the Blue E!: Switching to Firefox
For all those surfers who have slowly grown disenchanted with Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser, Don't Click on the Blue E! from O'Reilly is here to help. It offers non-technical users a convenient roadmap for switching to a better web browser - Firefox.
The only book that covers the switch to Firefox, Don't Click on the Blue E! is a must for anyone who wants to browse faster, more securely, and more efficiently. It takes readers through the process step-by-step, so it's easy to understand. Schools, non-profits, businesses, and individuals can all benefit from this how-to guide.
Firefox includes most of the features that browser users are familiar with, along with several new features other browsers don't have, such as a bookmarks toolbar and window tabs that allow users to quickly switch among several web sites. There is also the likelihood of better security with Firefox.
All indications say that Firefox is more than just a passing fad. With USA Today and Forbes Magazine hailing it as superior to Internet Explorer, Firefox is clearly the web browser of the future. In fact, as it stands today, already 22% of the market currently employs Firefox for their browsing purposes.
Don't Click on the Blue E! has been written exclusively for this growing audience. With its straightforward approach, it helps people harness this emerging technology so they can enjoy a superior - and safer - browsing experience.
Read two sample excerpts: Counteracting Web Annoyances (651 kb PDF) & Safety and Security (252 kb PDF).
Translated into Japanese!
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